“She’s a very kind soul. My only hope is you don’t run her off again.”
“That’s my goal, which reminds me, can you help me reschedule appointments? I’m changing my hours but not only to accommodate her. This has shown me that I need to adjust my ways, too,” I tell her.
“Then, of course, I’ll help you. Go get to work, and I’ll do the same.” She goes to work on her computer.
“Let me know if you need anything. I’m going to send a letter out to Human Resources about the upcoming changes in my department, and then I’ll work on the schedule as well.” I head to my office that’s situated behind her desk.
“Yeah, yeah, get out of here, you rascal.” She laughs, and I just smirk. She’ll always give me hell.
Walking into my office, I take it in, looking at all the bland colors in front of me, so unlike Callie’s home and her personality.
I sit in my seat, trying to get my thoughts together, but my mind keeps wandering back to Callie and her daughter. Replaying everything that has happened in the last twenty-four hours.
“Damn,” I grumble to myself. I want Callie for more than just my assistant, and that’s a realization that came out of left field, too. I blame the way she got all fired up when she came to tell me she was quitting. Sure, I noticed her before, but not in this way. Not to mention, my mom is putting thoughts in my head.
I log into my computer, type up an email to HR, and then start working on my schedule. I’m booked out for the next month, especially in the afternoons and late evenings. This is going to be a damn nightmare to finagle, so I pull my head out of my ass and get to it.
“I’m ordering lunch in. Do you want anything?” Mom calls through the open door.
“Sure, let me give you my card,” I offer. She starts mumbling under her breath about how she can afford lunch for her son in her native tongue. I don’t bother to respond.
“Mom?” I grab her attention from the verbal rant she has going on.
“What now?” she grouses.
“You can buy lunch today. Don’t expect me to allow it all the time, though,” I tell her as I continue to scroll through my calendar.
“Nice of you to let me know what I can and can’t do. You are lucky that I love you, Jamie Antonio Rodriquez.” I watch as she stands from her desk, opening drawers then slamming them all as she huffs and puffs.
“I love you, Mom,” I tell her before she leaves.
“I don’t know why I put up with you.” She waves over her shoulder, not looking back.
I palm my phone, desperately wanting to text Callie, but she asked me not to bother her unnecessarily. I open up my contacts, hovering over the name she put in my phone. When I see it, I chuckle. “Fuck it,” I say to my empty office. Instead of calling her, though, I text her.
Me: Thank you again for making this work between us.
I wait to see if she responds. After a couple of minutes, I place the phone down on my desk, contemplating if that was too soon or if she’ll ignore me. I make my way through the rest of this month, seeing that meetings are done by two o’clock in the afternoon from here on out except one or two a month. A smile takes over my face; it’s going to be nice to be out of here at a much more normal time, yet I have no idea what in the hell I’ll do with it.
Boss Babe: I see you’ve found your way around your phone already. You’re welcome, by the way.
Me: Yeah, you could say that. Since you plugged “your name” in my phone, I’m secretly wondering what I am in your phone.
Boss Babe: I’m pleading the fifth…
Me: Sure, that’s what they all say. I’ll figure it out one day.
Boss Babe: Only if you’re lucky.
Me: I have a feeling I will be.
Boss Babe: I have to go. Claira is demanding to get in her recital dress.
Me: Tell her good luck and have fun.
Boss Babe: Maybe…
I quit texting her after that, knowing she needs to get ready. I understood from the text she was apprehensive about bringing me around her daughter. That woman, she may not know it yet, but she’s got me by the hook.
11
Callie
The past week has been amazing. In fact, it only solidified what I need to do for Claira and myself. I know she missed my parents and her aunties, so I begrudgingly gave her up tonight. I make a grocery list, a list of meals we’ll have for dinner this week, and I even make a list of what still needs to be done around the house.